The Research and Evaluation
program conducts research and evaluation projects dealing with behaviors
and attitudes in highway safety. Program focus is on drivers, passengers,
pedestrians, and motorcyclists and their role in the traffic safety.
Laboratory and field studies are conducted to identify and measure behaviors
involved in crashes or associated with injuries. Scientific research
is conducted to develop and refine countermeasures to deter unsafe behaviors
and promote safe alternatives. Evaluation projects are designed and
implemented to test countermeasure effectiveness in the real world.
Program efforts are focused in the folowing areas: alcohol-impaired
driving, drug-impaired driving, occupant protection (including child
safety seats), speed and aggressive driving, pedestrian and bicyclist
safety, motorcyclist safety, older driver safety, improving emergency
medical services, drowsy driving and new driver safety.

What's
new in Research and Evaluation Program?

2003 Motor Vehicle Occupant Safety Survey
Volume 1
Methodology Report(posted 09/31/2004)
The Motor Vehicle Occupant Safety Survey (MVOSS) is a large sample national telephone survey on occupant protection issues conducted every 2-3 years for NHTSA. This series of Volumes presents results from the 2003 MVOSS. Volume 1 presents the survey methodology as well as the survey questionnaires.

Antihistamines and Driving-Related Behavior: A Review of the Evidence for Impairment.(posted 06/22/2004)
NHTSA sponsored a review of the effects of first- and second-generation antihistamines on impairment. There is overwhelming evidence that the first-generation antihistamines produce objective signs of skills performance impairment as well as subjective symptoms of sedation. In contrast, second-generation antihistamines show much fewer incidence of objective skills performance impairment and no evidence of subjective sedation. The proper selection of second-generation antihistamines for treatment of symptoms of cols, flu, and allergies should produce little impairment of skilled performance, such as driving.

Drugs
and Human Performance Fact Sheets(posted 05/11/2004).pdf version
These Fact Sheets present information on sixteen of the most commonly
used/abused drugs. They include information such as psychopharmacology,
as well as the specific effect each drug has on driving. Toxicologists,
prosecutors, police and others interested in driving under the influence
of drugs cases wil be interested in their content.

Aggressive
Driving Enforcement(posted 04/23/2004)
This report presents the results of a study that evaluated the effects
of two aggressive driving enforcement programs in Indianapolis, Indiana
and Tucson, Arizona.

Misuse
of Child Restraints(posted 2/04/2004)This report
presents the results of a study that measured the current level of misuse
of child restraint systems among the general public. The project focused
specifically on forms of misuse that can be expected to raise the risk
of injury to a child in the event of a crash. The study collected data
on 5,527 children under 80 lbs in six States.